Surgical appliance



Nov. 5, 1957 J. R. SCOTT SURGICAL APPLIANCE Filed NOV. 1, 1954 John R.Scarf IN VEN TOR.-

United States Patent SURGICAL APPLIANCE John R. Scott, Missoula, Mont.Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 466,079

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-335) The present invention relates generally to newand useful improvements in surgical appliances and has for its primaryobject to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means forexpeditiously, safely and painlessly closing incisions and woundswithout the necessity of resorting to the usual suture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a surgical appliance ofthe aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, durable, sanitary and which may be manufactured at lowcost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an appliance embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a view illustrating the initial step in closing a wound;

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the completed operation;

Figure 4 is a top plan View showing one arrangement or method which maybe employed; and

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the use of a single appliance.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a hookor needle 6 of suitable metal. At one end, the hook 6 is formed toprovide a return bend or gooseneck 7 which terminates in an integral,flattened, tapered horizontally projecting handle 8 lying in asubstantially common plane with said hook. At its other or free end, thehook 6 terminates in a point 9.

It is thought that the manner in which the appliance is used will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing, particularly tothose of the medical profession. In Figure 2 of the drawing, referencecharacter ice 10 designates a wound or incision in the skin 11 and thesubcutaneous layer 12. The hook 6 is inserted in the skin 11 insubstantially the manner illustrated, the handle 3 being swung in aclockwise direction. Thus, the walls of the wound are approximated andheld, the flattened handle resting on the skin to which it may besecurely held through the medium of a strip of adhesive tape, as at 13.To remove the appliance, the foregoing operation is substantiallyreversed. In Figure 3 of the drawing, reference character 15 designatesa dressing over the healing wound. Figure 4 of the drawing illustrates amethod of employing a multiplicity of the appliances. The return bend orgooseneck 7 prevents the skin from slipping off the hook 6 onto thehandle 8.

It is believed that the many advantages of a surgical applianceconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction may be resorted to which will fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A surgical suture of the character described comprising a skinpenetrating and retaining hook, and a substantially flat, straight,tapered handle integral with one end of the hook and lying substantiallyin a common plane therewith, said hook terminating in a penetratingpoint at its other end, said handle lying flat against the skin surfacewhen the device is in an operative position.

2. A surgical suture of the character described comprising a skinpenetrating and retaining hook, a return bend on one end of said hookfor retaining the skin thereon, and a handle integral with said returnbend, said hook and said handle lying in a substantially common plane,said handle being substantially straight and flat and lying flat againstthe skin surface when the device is in an operative position.

3. A surgical suture comprising: a retaining hook including a skinpenetrating point on one end and a skin retaining return bend on itsother end, a straight, flat elongated handle on said return bend lyingsubstantially in a common plane with the hook and lying flat on the skinsurface when the device is in an operative position, and means forsecuring said handle on the skin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS527,263 Blanchard Oct. 9, 1894 709,392 Brown Sept. 16, 1902 1,377,359Littlejohn May 10, 1921 2,523,812 Carr Sept. 26, 1950 2,669,747Detaranto Feb. 23, 1954

